Burghead Bull (cast)

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This is a cast of a stone found at Burghead in Moray. It is one of a number of stones carved with bull symbols, found in and around the site of the Pictish fortress at Burghead. They date from between 500 and 800.

Like the other stones, the bull is naturalistically depicted, with scrolls defining the joints where the limbs meet the body.

The large fort at Burghead was a major Pictish settlement. A number of carvings have been found there, many depicting bulls. Various theories have been put forward to explain their significance, including religious, territorial emblems or clan totems.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-159-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IB 144
• Date: Original stone: Between 500 and 800
  
• Material: Sculptured with figure of bull
  Burghead Bull
  Stone / cast
  
• Dimensions: 21.5" x 22" x 1"
  
• What: Burghead Bull
  Stone / cast
  
• Subject:
• Who: British Museum (Holder of original)
  
• Where: Scotland, Moray, Burghead
  
• Event:
• Description: Cast of a stone carved with the figure of a bull, the original was found at Burghead, Moray, and dates from between 500 - 800
  
• References:
  • Allen, J. R. & Anderson, J. The early Christian monuments of Scotland. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1903, vol. 2, pp 118-23. 
• Translations:
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